What’s more fun than pizza night? How about pizza afternoon?! This dairy-free pizza dip is a delicious snack time, game day, or party twist on everyone’s favorite margherita-style flatbread. It’s layered with gooey allergy-friendly “cheese” and savory marinara for the perfect pizzeria finish. Even the pickiest kids (and adults!) will delight in this secretly simple, dairy-free combination.
Dairy-Free Pizza Dip that’s Too Cheesy to Believe
Most vegan pizza dip recipes are heavily layered with cheese alternatives. But this delicious version is made from scratch! Don’t worry, it’s still quite easy.
Why You’ll Love this Dairy-Free Pizza Dip
- Quick & Easy: It takes just 10 minutes of hands-on time and 20 minutes of simmering (you can cook the sauces at the same time!) to make a big batch of this tasty dip.
- Nut-Free Cheese Sauce: Unlike many vegan cheese recipes that rely on cashews, this one is completely nut-free. Consequently, it’s lighter, less expensive, and allergy-friendly.
- No Cheese Alternatives: Similar dips use store-bought vegan cheese(s). This dairy-free pizza dip skips the faux ingredients, with a nutritious and simple ingredient list.
- Light in Fat and Calories: Each sauce has a vegetable base, for a low calorie, low fat, and even relatively low carb dip.
- Creamy & Flavorful: Potato, olive oil, and miso combine for a very smooth and perfectly rich cheesy sauce. It complements the classic marinara deliciously!
- Versatile Serving Options: Serve it warm or chilled, layered together or as two separate dips, with crudites or bread, as nachos or mini pizzas. The choice is yours!
Ingredient FAQs
- Tomatoes: Can I use fire-roasted tomatoes? Of course! This will add another dimension of flavor.
- Tomato Sauce: Is there a certain brand or recipes of tomato sauce I should use? This is just plain canned tomato sauce, like Hunt’s, Contadina, Muir Glen, or generic. Use whichever brand you prefer.
- Balsamic Vinegar: Can I use red wine vinegar instead? Balsamic vinegar is highly preferred, but regular red wine vinegar will work in a pinch.
- Nutritional Yeast: Do I have to use nutritional yeast? I recommend it. Nutritional yeast lends the cheesy flavor to this dip. Please note this recipe uses a small amount of nutritional yeast, like a seasoning. Even if you aren’t a fan, it isn’t overpowering.
- Miso: Where do I find miso? Miso is sold in all types of grocery stores, but the location within the store can vary. Look in the refrigerated section, particularly near the produce, and on the dry shelves near the Asian food. Miso is often sold refrigerated and unrefrigerated. If all else fails, ask the staff – I often do!
- Miso: What is light miso? It can be labeled as white miso, yellow miso, light miso, or a combination of these.
Special Diet Notes: Dairy-Free Pizza Dip
By ingredients, this recipe is dairy-free / non-dairy, egg-free, gluten-free, nut-free, peanut-free, optionally soy-free, vegan, plant-based, vegetarian, and optionally top allergen-free. It’s also coconut-free and sesame-free. Just be sure to choose vegetable stock and miso that suits your dietary needs.
Dairy-Free Pizza Dip
This easy recipe is a three in one deal. You can make just the marinara dip, just the "cheese" dip, or both, and serve them separate or layered. Or, you can pour them on chips and bake for easy pizza nachos.
Ingredients
Method
Easy Marinara Dip
- Heat the oil in a small saucepan over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the garlic and sauté until browned, but not scorched, about 3 to 4 minutes.
- Stir in the diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, balsamic vinegar, basil, oregano, and salt. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for about 10 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld and the sauce to thicken.
Dairy-Free Cheese Dip
- Add the vegetable stock, potato, and garlic to a medium saucepan over medium heat. Cover and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer until the potato is fork tender, about 15 to 18 minutes.
- Carefully transfer the contents of the saucepan to your blender. Add the olive oil, nutritional yeast, miso paste, and vinegar. Puree on high speed until the mixture is completely smooth, scraping down the sides of your blender as needed to make sure all the ingredients are incorporated.
To Serve
- Either chill both components for at least 1 hour for a cool dip or assemble right away to enjoy warm. You can also serve them as two separate dips.
- For a layered dip, spread the marinara into the bottom of a large, shallow bowl and top with the cheese sauce.
Nutrition
Tried this recipe?
Let us know how it was!Variations
- Margherita-Style Option: Layer the dip as directed and garnish with fresh basil slices.
- Pepperoni-Style Option: Bake dairy-free pepperoni slices (I use minis) at 400ºF in your oven (8 to 10 minutes) or air fryer (5 minutes) until beginning to crisp. You can use vegan pepperoni, if preferred. Layer the dip as directed and top generously with the crisped pepperoni.
- Pizza Nachos Option: Pour a bag of dairy-free pita chips or tortilla chips onto a sheet pan and spread them out. Warm the chips for 2 to 3 minutes in a 350°F oven, and top with dollops of the marinara and cheese dips. Add your favorite pizza toppings like sliced olives, onions, mushrooms, peppers, etc. Serve or optionally bake for 3 to 5 minutes before serving.
Serving Suggestions
- Breads: Dairy-free breadsticks, toasted baguette (crostini), focaccia strips, or pita bread.
- Chips: Dairy-free pita chips, lentil chips, cassava chips, tortilla chips, or pretzel crisps.
- Fresh Veggies: Mini bell peppers, carrot sticks, celery, cucumber slices, blanched cauliflower, or blanched broccoli.
- As a Topping: Pour it over baked potatoes, french fries, or use it as a sauce for pizza bagels or English muffins.
Storage Tips
You can store the dips separately or layered in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 to 5 days. These dips also freeze fairly well, and can be defrosted and reheated in a 350ºF oven for 5 to 10 minutes, or until warmed through.
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3 Comments
This is an amazing addition to our dairy free adventure. It was yum.
Thanks For Sharing this amazing recipe. My family loved it. I will be sharing this recipe with my friends. Hope the will like it.
The cashew cheese sauce is absolutely easy and delicious and is now my go to recipe for cashew cheese sauce to use in other recipes. Thank you!